Here's some news that deserves a celebration: the world is proving that we can have our economic cake and eat it sustainably too.

For years, we've been told to accept a false choice—either grow the economy or protect the climate, but not both. Well, it turns out that outdated assumption is being demolished by reality itself, and the results are genuinely thrilling.

According to a comprehensive new report from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, countries around the world are achieving what was once considered nearly impossible: robust economic growth paired with falling carbon emissions. This isn't a temporary blip or pandemic-related anomaly. It's a sustained, accelerating trend that's rewriting the rules of economic development.

The numbers tell an inspiring story. Between 2015 and 2023, an impressive 46 percent of the global economy achieved what researchers call "absolute decoupling"—where GDP climbs while emissions drop. That represents a remarkable 38 percent increase compared to the decade before the Paris Agreement. Even more encouraging, 92 percent of the global economy now exists in countries that have achieved either absolute or relative decoupling.

"We're sometimes told that the world can't cut emissions without cutting growth," explains John Lang, one of the report's authors. "The opposite is happening."

The research examined 113 countries representing more than 97 percent of global GDP and 93 percent of emissions, making this one of the most comprehensive analyses of its kind. What researchers discovered is that decoupling has shifted from exception to norm—a transition that carries profound implications for our collective future.

Europe is leading this green growth revolution with particular enthusiasm. Countries including Germany, France, Sweden, Denmark, and the United Kingdom have consistently managed to expand their economies while shrinking their carbon footprints, both before and after 2015. What makes this even more impressive is that the report used consumption-based emissions data, accounting for the carbon footprint of imported goods. This means countries can't simply claim success by outsourcing their pollution elsewhere.

But Europe isn't alone in this achievement. Countries that previously struggled with decoupling, like Italy, Portugal, Switzerland, and Greece, have made significant strides since 2015, earning recognition as "improvers" in the green growth journey.

Beyond the environmental benefits, this trend represents a powerful economic opportunity. The clean energy sector already employs more people globally than the fossil fuel industry, while net zero industries are growing three times faster than the overall economy. As Gareth Redmond-King of ECIU notes, net zero isn't just a climate goal—it's an economic strategy that's proving its worth in real time.

This shift matters deeply because it dismantles one of the most persistent barriers to climate action: the fear that doing right by the planet means sacrificing prosperity. Countries are demonstrating conclusively that this fear is unfounded. We can build thriving economies, create good jobs, and still give our children a livable planet.

While global emissions haven't peaked yet, they're rising more slowly, and the structural transformation is undeniable. More countries are joining the decoupling movement every year, turning what the IPCC once called "controversial" into documented reality.

The momentum built since the Paris Agreement shows no signs of stopping. In fact, it's accelerating, powered by innovation, investment, and the growing recognition that green growth isn't just possible—it's profitable. That might just be the most hopeful climate news we've heard in years.